BUZZ-U.S. Stocks on the Move-XTL, Cree, Esperion, market debuts

Reuters Staff

6 Min Read

(For faster updates on individual market-movers, Eikon users please use search string "STXBZ US"; for more market insights, including options activity, ; for the Day Ahead newsletter, link.reuters.com/mex49s; for the Morning News Call newsletter, link.reuters.com/nex49s) U.S. stocks were flat on Thursday as a positive reading on the labor market was not enough to entice buyers even after a sharp decline in the previous session. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.45 percent at 16,729.86 and the S&P 500 was down 0.61 percent at 1,934.31.

** XTL BIOPHARMACEUTICALS LTD, $3.5, +112.12 pct

** ELI LILLY & CO, $64.55, -0.81 pct

Eli Lilly said it would discontinue the development of its lupus drug as the treatment was not found to be effective enough in two late-stage trials.

Israel-based XTL will start mid-stage studies of its lupus drug in mid-2015. The company said on Sept. 2 it intends to approach the U.S. FDA with a finalized trial design for its lupus drug by the end of this year.

** ESPERION THERAPEUTICS INC, $28.66, +17.36 pct

The drugmaker said an experimental cholesterol-fighting drug being developed by the company lowered LDL levels significantly more than Merck & Co Inc’s Zetia in a midstage clinical trial.

** REALD INC, $11.89, +28.26 pct

Activist investor Starboard Value LP proposed to take the 3D technology licensor private for $12 per share. The offer represents a premium of 29 percent to RealD stock’s Wednesday close of $9.27, valuing the company at about $540 million.

** TESLA MOTORS INC, $248.12, +3.28 pct

The electric car maker’s chief executive, Elon Musk, sent out a cryptic tweet on Wednesday, saying it is “about time to unveil the D and something else”, with an accompanying photo which mentioned a date, Oct. 9.

** HEAT BIOLOGICS INC, $6.659, +7.75 pct

The drug developer said it completed enrollment of patients for an early-stage study of its bladder cancer treatment, Vesigenurtacel-L. The company said it expects to start mid-stage study for the drug in the fourth quarter.

** ATTENTO SA, $13.4, -10.67 pct

The business process outsourcing company’s shares fell as much as 12.5 pct to $13.12 in their debut, valuing the company at about $956 million.

** TWITTER INC, $50.58, +1.04 pct

JP Morgan raised the microblogging website company’s stock to “overweight” from “neutral” and increased its price target to $64 from $54. “Twitter is a primary beneficiary of the shift toward mobile advertising,” JP Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth wrote in a note.

** ARIAD PHARMACEUTICALS INC, $5.73, +8.52 pct

The drug developer said its experimental lung cancer drug received “breakthrough therapy” status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

** CREE INC, $33.91, -14.41 pct

The light-emitting diodes maker said it expects first-quarter revenue of about $428 million, significantly below the average analyst expectation of $455.3 million

The company said it expects LED products revenue to decline 20 pct to $174 million due to weaker global demand.

** AGRIUM INC, $84.76, -3.65 pct

The Canadian fertilizer producer forecast third-quarter earnings of 45-55 cents per share from continuing operations, well below the average analyst estimate of 68 cents

** AAC HOLDINGS INC, $18.96, +26.40 pct

The substance abuse treatment servicer made a strong market debut, rising as much as 44 percent.

** WAYFAIR INC, $35.19, +21.34 pct

The online home-furnishing retailer’s shares made a strong debut. The company’s IPO of 11 million class A common shares was priced at $29 each, above its expected range of $25-$28 per share

** WILAN INC, $3.033, -13.63 pct

The Canadian patent licensing company on Wednesday said a U.S. judge had ruled in favor of Apple Inc in a litigation case against it.

** MASIMO CORP, $22.55, -6.12 pct

The Dutch healthcare equipment company Philips said on Thursday it would appeal against a U.S court ruling ordering it to pay $466.8 million in compensation to Masimo for infringing two patents.

** NEWLINK GENETICS CORP, $22.18, -3.36 pct

The drug developer appointed Jack Henneman, former chief financial officer of Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corp , its executive vice president and CFO.

** CALITHERA BIOSCIENCES, $9.61, -3.90 pct

The pharmaceutical company debuted with an offering of 8 million common shares priced at $10 each, below its expected range of $13-$15 per share.

** SEARS HOLDINGS CORP, $26.13, +3.77 pct

Sears Holdings said it would sell most of its stake in Sears Canada Inc through a rights issue that would raise up to $380 million ahead of the holiday season.

** AUTODESK INC, $56.61, +1.71 pct

Analysts from Cowen and Co raised their rating on the stock to “outperform” from “market perform”, citing a recent acceleration in desktop subscriptions.

Credit Suisse also raised its rating on the stock to “outperform” from “neutral”, according to Theflyonthewall.com.